With the holiday season in full force, most of us starting to think ahead to the new year and what changes we want for 2018. While resolutions are far from binding, they encourage us to visualize outcomes and implement strategies to achieve our goals. If you want to make 2018 the Year of Your Career, make a commitment before it begins. Here are five resolutions and tricks to make them last.

LEARN NEW SKILLS

As the workplace and industries change, we owe it to ourselves to keep our skills current and competitive. Making a commitment to expand your professional skillset may seem daunting, but with recent tools and platforms like Lynda, Alison and LinkedIn, online professional development opportunities are now more accessible than ever before.

How to Make It Stick: Research opportunities in your industry and identify a few potential course options. If applicable, speak with your boss about your 2018 growth goals and see if there is an opportunity for your company to develop a budget for those initiatives. Speaking with a supervisor about your intentions not only shows initiative, but it will help keep you accountable for putting in the work. If you don’t have a boss, purchase admission to an upcoming workshop or course. If “go big or go broke” is your style, buying a monthly or yearly subscription to an e-Learning platform could serve as a motivator to stick with your plan.

GET A PROMOTION

This may seem like one of those lofty, unattainable resolutions, but with the right approach, it’s completely doable! The first step is to create a plan that outlines your intention. What role do you want to be promoted to? What specific tasks or projects are you willing to take on in order to get there? What value do you bring to your company? Once you have a sense of this, set up a meeting. Ask your supervisor, “What can I do to achieve a promotion to XX role in XX months?”

How to Make It Stick: Hire a career coach! By working with someone who knows how to navigate professional challenges, you’ll get actionable ways to progress in your career. In addition, if your current role doesn’t have much promise for upward mobility, your career coach can help you identify other opportunities that will enable you to reach your potential.

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

The word “networking” comes with many connotations, both good and bad. Many professionals fail to see the value in networking activities and neglect to make it a priority; however, networking is one of the greatest long-term investments you can make in your career. Networking comes in many forms, which can be adapted based on your individual strengths and professional ambitions. By understanding what opportunities work best for your career and personality, you’ll be more likely to find a community or outlet you enjoy. Make it a point to attend one event per quarter, whether it be a conference, social meet up, or volunteer activity.

How to Make It Stick: If you aren’t a natural networker, remember that networking doesn’t have to occur at a professional event. Instead, find an external activity that you enjoy. Your continued involvement in it, or with a social group, will allow you build connections in your community over time. ​Establishing your 2018 career resolutions will help you start your year with a clear sense of direction and purpose. To stay on track with your goals, keep yourself accountable to your friends, mentor or career coach. Remember that growth is often hard to see in the moment, and often requires equal parts patience and commitment.